Radial press

Abstract

A radial press comprises two press yokes and eight crimping members. The yokes are arranged on a plane that is perpendicular to the press axis and are located diametrically opposite the press axis and can be moved towards each other in a straight line by means of a drive unit, whereby the direction of movement is perpendicular to the press axis. At least one part of the crimping members that are disposed in the yokes has slide surfaces that respectively cooperate with a control surface of one of the yokes or an adjacent crimping member in such a way that all of the crimping members can be moved in a uniform manner onto the press axis when the press yokes move closer to each other. Two crimping members arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the at least one movable press yoke are divided into two segments.

We claim:  
     
       1. A radial press comprising: 
       a housing,  
       a first press yoke and a second press yoke, each press yoke having first control surfaces and second control surfaces, said press yokes being disposed within said housing; and  
       eight crimping members provided in said first and second press yokes and arranged uniformly around a press axis;  
       each of said press yokes being arranged opposite one another in a plane that is perpendicular to said press axis, at least said first press yoke being movable with respect to the housing such that both press yokes are movable with respect to each other, via a drive unit, in a direction that runs perpendicular to the press axis;  
       six of said eight crimping members further comprising slide surfaces that interact with said control surfaces of said press yokes such that said eight crimping members are uniformly moved toward the press axis when the press yokes move toward each other;  
       wherein two crimping members of said eight are diametrically opposed to one another on said first press yoke and said second press yoke in the direction of movement of said first press yoke, and are in a stationary position with respect to said respective press yokes; and  
       wherein those two crimping members of said eight which are arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of said first press yoke are each divided into two crimping member segments, each of said crimping member segments being slidably guided along said first control surface of the associated first and second press yokes respectively.  
     
     
       2. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of said four crimping member segments further comprise centering elements that correspond to one another. 
     
     
       3. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises a radial load opening on one side, arranged perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the press yokes and adjacent one of the two crimping member divided into two segments. 
     
     
       4. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein there are defined four crimping members of said eight that are angularly arranged at a 45° angle with respect to the direction of movement of the at least one movable press yoke, each of said angularly arranged crimping members being disposed on a respect press yoke, each of said angularly arranged crimping members being guided by a first support surface on said respective press yoke and a second support surface on said adjacent crimping member segment. 
     
     
       5. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein only one of said first and second yokes is moveable within said housing. 
     
     
       6. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein both of said first and second yokes are moveable within said housing. 
     
     
       7. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising guide elements provided on said press yokes that limit the sliding movement of said crimping member segments with respect to said respective press yokes. 
     
     
       8. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said radial press is arranged on an arm of an industrial robot. 
     
     
       9. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit is an electromechanical drive unit. 
     
     
       10. A radial press in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit is a hydraulic drive unit. 
     
     
       11. A radial press system comprising at least two radial presses in accordance with  claim 1  arranged on a joint guide at an adjustable distance from each other.